Washington Monument - A Washington, DC National Landmark

The Washington Monument, a memorial to George Washington, our nation's first president, is the most prominent landmark in Washington, DC and stands as the centerpiece of the National Mall. It is the tallest structure in Washington, DC and measures 555 feet 5 1/8 inches high. Fifty flags surround the base of the Washington Monument symbolizing the 50 states of America.

Washington Monument Address:

Constitution Ave. and 15th St. SW.
Washington, DC
(202) 426-6841
See a map and directions to the National Mall

Nearest Metro Station to the Washington Monument:

Blue, Orange lines to Smithsonian
or Green, Yellow, Blue, Orange lines to L’Enfant Plaza

Washington Monument Hours :

Open daily except December 25.
Regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Washington Monument Admission :

Free time assigned tickets are required. Go to the kiosk on the Washington Monument grounds at 15th Street and Madison Drive. During peak season, arrive early to avoid long lines. Advance tickets are available for $1.50 service fee. Call (800) 967-2283 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. or make your reservation online.

Official Website:

http://www.nps.gov/wamo/home.htm

Photos:

See More Photos of the Washington Monument

About the Washington Monument:

The Washington Monument is one of the country's most recognizable structures, a white-colored obelisk at the west end of the National Mall. An elevator takes visitors to the top to see a spectacular view of Washington, DC including unique perspectives of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol Building.

Construction of the Washington Monument began in 1848. However, the memorial was not completed until 1884, due to lack of funds during the Civil War. Beginning in July 1848 the Washington National Monument Society invited states, cities and patriotic societies to contribute memorial stones to commemorate George Washington. The 192 memorial stones adorn the interior walls of the monument.

From 1998 to 2000, the Washington Monument was restored and a new information center was built just below the observation deck. In the winter of 2005, a new wall was constructed around the monument to improve security.